COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 14, 2026

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor P. Holohan

To ask the Chief Executive to outline the Council's protocol following a house fire in a Council-owned dwelling occupied by an SDCC tenant?

REPLY:

Following notification of a fire in a council-owned dwelling, the property is inspected and secured as soon as it is safe to do so. A Clerk of Works assesses the extent of the damage and liaises with our insurer.  Where required, specialist inspections, including mechanical and electrical assessments, are arranged. Clearance and cleansing works may also be necessary before the full scope of reinstatement works can be determined.

Once the insurer’s loss adjuster has assessed the damage and the necessary approvals are in place, contractor quotations are sought and reinstatement works are progressed.

Fire-damaged properties can be complex, and the full extent of damage may not be apparent at the outset. Each case is therefore managed on its individual circumstances, with timelines dependent on the nature and extent of the damage, insurance requirements, the outcome of specialist inspections and the works required to safely reinstate the property.

The Estate Management Team engages with the tenant throughout the process and provides advice on temporary arrangements while repair works are being carried out. Depending on the severity of the damage and the circumstances of the case, the tenant may also be asked to sign a tenant disposal waiver form where appropriate.

Where there is any indication that a fire may have been deliberately started, or that a council-owned home or tenant has been targeted, the matter is treated seriously. We will liaise with An Garda Síochána, Dublin Fire Brigade and other relevant agencies as appropriate, and any available information will be considered as part of the wider estate management response. Such cases are managed with due regard to tenant safety, the protection of council property and the need to support any investigation by the relevant authorities.

We are also conscious of the emerging fire safety risks associated with batteries in e-scooters and similar devices, particularly where devices are charged indoors, unattended, overnight, or in hallways and other escape routes. Tenants are reminded that unsafe charging practices can lead to fires and that devices should only be charged in accordance with manufacturer guidance and recognised fire safety advice.

In general, it is not our policy to provide alternative accommodation where a fire occurs in a tenant’s home. Tenants are advised, in the first instance, to seek temporary accommodation with family or friends, where this is available. We do not maintain a supply of vacant dwellings for use as temporary accommodation while works are carried out to fire-damaged properties. Progress reviews are undertaken regularly to support the efficient turnaround of such dwellings, having regard to the circumstances of the household and the need to return the property to safe occupation as soon as possible.